When applying for SSDI, there are some Social Security disability forms that your doctor may need to fill out. These forms include a residual functional capacity form, medical evaluation report, and more. The forms that need to be completed will depend whether your disability appears in the Blue Book lists.
Social Security Disability Forms For Doctors to Fill Out
Since the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies a majority of disability claims, it is important that you submit the most persuasive evidence you possibly can to get approved for financial assistance. What represents the most convincing type of evidence?
The Social Security disability forms for doctors to fill out.
Although you should submit the results of diagnostic tests, the medical statement signed by your doctor verifying your diagnosis is a critically important Social Security disability form.
The statement not only verifies your diagnosis, but is also describes why you can no longer work because of your disability.
Another important form that is signed by your doctor is the document which confirms that you have not worked for 12 consecutive months.
Missing work for 12 consecutive months is one of the criteria used by the SSA to review Social Security disability claims.
If the SSA denies your Social Security disability claim, the SSA might ask that you complete a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment.
An RFC assessment measures how you perform standard job functions by putting you through a series of mental and/or physical tests.
Your doctor might put you through exercises that measure your strength, stamina, and/or ability to remember sequences.
An RFC assessment signed by your physician can be the missing piece of evidence that gets you approved for financial assistance.
One of the most important documents signed by your doctor is a prognosis form. A prognosis form predicts your chances of making a full recovery from your disability, which can influence how much money you receive for future medical expenses.
What Forms Will My Doctor Need To Fill Out?
When filing an application for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA) evidence is required indicating that you have not worked for at least 12-months. You may ask your doctor to complete a medical statement showing exactly the diagnosis of your medical condition.
The doctor should describe the limitations due to your disability. It could be anything from loss of hearing to inability to stand in one place for a sustained period of time. Simply stating that you are disabled will not satisfy the Social Security Administration (SSA) requirements.
The next Social Security disability form your doctor may fill out is the Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) form. Your Social Security disability doctor will ask you to carry out certain exercises before completing the information on the form such as:
- how long you can stand, walk, and sit in an 8-hour workday;
- the amount of weight you are able to lift and carry during a work day;
- using your hands to reach, grasp, or finger items;
- your ability to bend, stoop, and climb stairs;
- your ability to interact with the public and work colleagues;
- how long you can concentrate on work tasks and follow directions.
When your disability doctor provides the limitations of your RFC, s/he should explain how these have been calculated. For example, if you are unable to stoop or crouch due to a herniated disc, your doctor should describe why this is taking place.
Getting a Doctor to Help
Some tips for getting a doctor to fill out Social Security disability forms include:
- making an appointment,
- asking only the social security disability doctor to fill out the disability forms;
- getting help from a disability lawyer.
What Else Should I Submit With My Social Security Disability Forms Filled Out By My Doctor(s)?
Apart from completing the Social Security forms, evidence should accompany them when the disability application is filed. This can include:
- medical evidence provided by your disability doctor;
- results of medical tests conducted such as x-rays, MRIs and blood tests.
- W2 form;
- tax returns.
Sample Disability Letter From a Doctor
With the Social Security Administration (SSA) denying a majority of disability claims, you can use all the support possible to present the most persuasive claim. Submitting a disability letter from your physician can make the difference between an approved claim and a claim that comes back denied by the SSA.
Explanation of Your Medical Condition
A disability letter submitted by your healthcare provider should include certain information that supports the evidence that you attach to your claim. Your doctor should present the information in summary form to convey an easy-to-understand synopsis of your disability.
The first part of the letter should contain information that describes the results of diagnostic tests. SSA medical examiners heavily rely on the results of diagnostic tests to determine whether an applicant meets the symptoms criteria listed in the SSA medical guide called the Blue Book. The disability letter should include a detailed description of the procedures followed to diagnose your medical condition. Diagnostic test results should demonstrate the development of a debilitating disability that qualifies you for financial assistance.
After describing the diagnostic test results, the next section of a disability letter should include information that pertains to treatment programs and physical therapy sessions. The description of treatment programs provides the team of medical examiners from the SSA with an idea about whether you can return to your former job or if you need special accommodations to transition to a different occupation
Define Your Job Limitations
The goal of the SSA is to find employment for disabled applicants, even if the new jobs do not match the job descriptions of the former jobs. This means your physician must define your employment limitations as it concerns basic job functions such as sitting, standing, and walking. Your healthcare provider discusses the ability for you to use your hands and arms, as well as the amount of weight you can lift. The disability letter answers the question of whether you can complete routine and repetitive job tasks. Other limitations might describe your reflexes, dexterity, coordination, and range of motion.
Prognosis of Making a Full or Partial Recovery
To place you in the right job, the team of medical examiners at the SSA must know whether your healthcare provider thinks you might return to work one day. A written statement describing the chances of you making a full or partial recovery can strengthen a disability benefits claim if your healthcare provider estimates that you will never return to the workforce.
Can a Doctor Refuse to Fill Out Disability Forms?
Yes, a doctor can refuse to complete and submit a disability form because healthcare providers are not under any legal obligation to fill out disability forms for their patients. However, physicians are required to submit copies of medical records, which include the results of diagnostic tests, as well as detailed descriptions of treatment programs and rehabilitation sessions.
Working with a Social Security disability attorney may help convince your healthcare provider to submit a disability letter to improve the chances of you receiving approval for a disability benefits claim. An administrative law judge (ALJ) hearing an appeal for disability benefits can order your physician to submit a disability letter by issuing a subpoena.
Get Help Today
If you are having trouble getting a doctor to fill out your forms, a lawyer may be able to help you. The disability lawyer can be present when you ask your doctor to fill out the Social Security disability forms requested by the SSA.
There are many conditions that qualify for disability benefits. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation form to get in touch with a lawyer today.
